#veteranbaseballwifelife

Unique Life. Hot Mess. Family Love. Sweet Times.

A Blog of the Ups and Downs & Ins and Outs of a Unique Kind of Life. A life of MiLB/ MLB Baseball and the People in it. A Blog of an over 50 Gravity Touched Hot Mess whose strange sense of humor keeps her going. A Blog of two people who adore their family! A Blog with food ideas from a self proclaimed Foodie. A Blog to encourage the tired, frazzled, aka Normal Women & men of all ages and remind them how Extremely Valuable they are!#veteranbaseballwifelife #Angieandstorm

On my journey as a parent, I've thought many times how a toddler and teenager aren't all that different. One is bigger than the other. The big ones need deodorant and acne meds, but inside they are very similar.

Here are some of my observations:Toddlers vs Teenagers Toddlers act out when there are hungry, dirty or tired… Teenagers too.Toddlers want to spread their wings and be in charge of some of their decisions without the necessary intelligence to do so… Teenagers too.Toddlers like to dress themselves, but their sense of fashion is limited by their lack of knowledge of the world around them… Teenagers too.Toddlers moods can still be diverted by something interesting and creative offered to them as an option by an intelligent adult...Teenagers too.Toddlers can balk at the boundaries given to them intended for their own good… Teenagers too.Toddlers are taking in a huge amount of information and processing it to the best of their ability... Teenagers too.Toddlers can get frustrated at adults because of their immature language skills for a certain situation that perplexes them… Teenagers too.Toddlers need naps. Their bodies and minds are growing at a rapid rate… Teenagers (and their parents😊)too.Toddlers confidence level in what they think they can accomplish is many times out of proportion to their physical, emotional or mental abilities… Teenagers too.Toddlers need a lot of Grace, your eye contact, hugs, kisses, playtime, praise, & cookies… Teenagers too.

A wise person challenged me to "get behind the eyes of your child". That is such good advice. The years playing in the sandbox or playing catch is where that starts. You learn so much seeing their antics, attitudes, and artistic bent as they play. Some are real thinkers. Some are engineers. Others are gentle and kind & then there's the energizer bunny. Sandbox interactions and/or melt downs are a keyhole we're given to view their world and their hearts. It's also the time you earn the right to be heard by your upcoming teenager.Neither one of these creations are adults. Both are awkward, loud, obstinate, stinky, and amazingly clever. To love them in the realm of their reality gives them confidence and a taste of Grace. That Grace will guide them as they grow and mature. God's Grace always loves unconditionally without comparison or shame. It transmits a calm to be who you are and know your specialities are God given. Like Psalms 139 tells us, "you are fearfully and wonderfully made"! A soul that knows it's worth in the eyes of the Almighty is unstoppable to change their world for good.

YES-you will survive both of these ages & stages! They will be some of your sweetest memories. Hang in there...this too shall pass...all too soon!Enjoy...and laugh! These creatures are funny things!!

Let's do this!​Storm and I are so blessed to be working from our hometown this season. That is such a rarity in this baseball life. I'm looking forward to friends and family being at the games & Grandbabes eating popcorn sitting on Mimi's lap! Storm is happy to be able to see us all at the games & his "baseball loving Mom" watching him coach. She's so proud of him!❤️

We are excited to see what the summer of 2017 brings! We're waiting patiently for a sweet new Grandbabe arriving in July! Let the games begin!

There was an afternoon ... many of which I've spent alone in strange towns and cities, but this one sticks out. I was teetering close to a sugar overload while eating donuts and drinking coffee in a Dunkin Donuts rummaging through Facebook. There were little options in this small Tennessee town for Free Wifi and I couldn't sit in the hotel another minute. We had already been here 3 days with 2 more to go. I was in Bottom Dwelling Boredom Land. Yes, that's a real place 🙄

Amongst the scrolling of frivolous information, I found something humorous and "shared" it. A casual friend of mine responded in kind and we had a good LOL moment. She asked where I was, since many people know I float around all over following my Knight in White Baseball Pants. I told her of my exciting afternoon of coffee and donuts and we began to chat/message. She, too, is a lady who likes to laugh and she brought well timed fun to my heart. She may or may not remember these few minutes of her already busy day with work and family, but it made a huge mark on me. She and I met while my youngest was in the youth group her and her husband lead. I've always found her delightful! Our paths cross here and there but that day when our paths intersected she chose to engage with me. Me..a person who lives a revolving door life. We hardly ever run across each other but she still stays connected..interested in what I'm up to! Thank you Kim for those moments of laughter and encouragement. Thank you for saving me from eating that one more donut that was staring at me 🍩!I want to thank my other sweet friends who check up on me during the baseball season. I even have one who is a night owl I can text anytime! It could so easily be "out of sight, out of mind". My Friends are treasures! A Friend is A Friend. 💝​Some I know well. Some call me Mom. Some I know casually or just in passing. Others just know me as 'Storm's wife'. Thank you all for being the type of people who care. Not only about my crazy life, but everyone around you. You're Amazing!

Cultivating friendships is essential... Not only for us in the game, but for everyone. Storm and I have accumulated some amazing friends from all over the country. They're the type that we can "pick up where we left off" each time we see them. Many are those who shepherded us along the way. I've found very few of them get shepherded back. Try returning the favor to those who you have ministering to you in your life. You won't be sorry. They very rarely give a hoot about what your husband does!To borrow a line from Michael W Smith: "Friends are friends forever if the Lord is the Lord of them..."

​"To have friends you must be a Friend!"#veteranbaseballwifelife #mom #lovethem #blog #jaxjumboshrimp #baseball #friends

Happy Christmas to ALL!🌲We're so thankful we get to spend another Christmas with our amazing and funny family! Storm and I also have birthdays on each side of Christmas! I am older than him for 2 days and he delights in extolling that to any who will listen. Oh joy! 🎂It was a whirlwind of a baseball season for these Patriarchs. We head to one destination to be re-routed to another destination in a matter of hours! Our summer in AAA/NOLA was a stretching and memorable time! Life is stretching and out of the box sometimes. God remains faithful and good! This #veteranbaseballwifelife was able to be on lots of roadtrips to new places with my "knight in white pants "! I'm also thankful for anti-inflammatory meds to get me through the pretzel-like positions of riding airplanes cross country in the middle seat & different mattress every 4 days.We made some wonderful and fun new friends this season. God is always faithful to fill the lonely gaps with people 'who get it' and care for you. These are the treasures I take with me into the off season. People--that's what life is all about..."people just need to be loved"... Thanks Dad for leaving me that legacy.

Storm and I are blessed with children we are so very proud of, and humbled to have been chosen as their parents. Our kids have all had a busy, chaotic, out of the box, wonderful year, too! There's been victory and defeat; loss and gain; addition and subtraction; highs and lows; love and loss; and the faithfulness & goodness of God overshadowing their souls.This Papa and Mimi are also so thankful for our always moving, inquisitive, growing too fast, chatty , loving, adorable GRANDBABES! In addition to the joy, wet kisses, hurricane like messes and filled to the brim hearts they give us...we are thankful we get to return them at the end of the day!😘❤️

Dear Gentle Jesus:Teach me as a parent of grown children how to do this. It's so hard to know when to speak and when to be silent. I do know praying is always a good option..😊. 'Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me.' My Mother's Heart is confused sometimes. Swaddle my grown children and hold them in your loving peaceful arms. May they recognize that it's You holding them. May they always know your touch and your voice. Fill them with peace, Godly wisdom and purpose.I feel like I did when they were little some days...always trying to catch them before they fall or protect them from the mean people. My Mother's Heart will always want the best for them. You've shown me often that it never was me who protected them...it was always you! I'm thankful all my worry and pleading has not fallen on deaf ears.. You promise to hear me when I call. You also lovingly have reminded me I never did control a single thing. You are the one in the Sovereignty business and don't need my help.Thank you for allowing me the immeasurable joy of being their Mom. Continue to teach me to trust You with their lives and futures. Gone are the days where a video and cookie made everything better. I need you still...this Mom of grown children. ❤️Because you first loved me,Thank you,Angie

No, mine and Storm's side profession isn't that of Food Critics!😂 LOL We just love food!

This season, 2016, has taken us many places! We've been in the Pacific Coast League of the MiLB. We've been from NOLA to Salt Lake City and many more in between. ⚾️Exploring a place that is new to us to grab lunch, is one of our fun things to do! Time is usually short, but our appetites are big! These places all fit our love of food and time restraints! We have made a list of a few of our "Davis Foodie PCL Faves"!Bon Appetite'

•Season the meat with salt and pepper. I also love Grill Mates Roasted Garlic and Herb! Be sure and season ALL SIDES!•Place the meat in the Crock Pot on onion slices.•Add 1/2 bottle of your favorite Mojo Marinade/Sauce. (Full bottle for whole roast).​•Add 1/4 bottle of your favorite beer. (Half bottle for whole roast).

Turn the Crock Pot to HIGH for 4-6 hours. Turn to LOW for the remaining time until serving.You know it's done when the bone slides out with ease!I've put this on when I go to bed and it's ready for lunch when we get up! (When doing it overnite, put Crock Pot on LOW).

Enjoy!! Too with BBQ if you like! Cilantro, Arugula, Avocados, Cheese, Black Beans, Salsa...are all amazing condiments for this recipe!!

The gift has traveled many miles.The outside is scuffed, torn and rumpled. It looks different than when it was first sent out The delivery address and stamps are hardly visible.

After several attempts the package is delivered to the new location. The postman rings the doorbell.The door opens. The box is lifted gently. It's opened with care. Gentle and expectant hands reveal something beautiful!

The ones who receive the gift are surprised. They are more than excited! It was more amazing than they could've ever imagined!

It was Christmas many years ago. "Did you mean it?" Those were the words I was hearing on the other end of the phone, and she was sobbing. "Yes. You can stay with us as long as you want." Christmas shouldn't be so sad for innocent kids.Two teenagers needed a home. The wheels had completely fallen off the one they knew. We knew & loved them. We had a home for them; our home; our family.The next several years were a crazy beautiful chaos. Five teenagers in the same home. You can only imagine! There were glorious highs & bottom dwelling lows. It was a new dance every week. We knew we had to just keep dancing...stumbling...and dancing.Teenagers are an interesting breed of humans! They remind me of toddlers with bigger bodies and an expanded vocabulary. Storm adores teenagers! I adore toddlers! So I guess together we were a good fit in this adventure of five at one time!The noise. The silences. The smells. The mess. The drama. The "come to Jesus" days. The manipulation skills. The tears. The humor. The laundry. The shoes. The groceries. The driving lessons. The boyfriends and girlfriends. Proms. Graduations. And POOF! It was over so fast!​Before I could blink...they were all grown! They survived. We survived!! Good News: They are all wonderful adults loving their families and making Storm and I "Papa & Mimi"!​They all taught me so much:1. Being a Mom was my favorite job!2. Some things were over our heads when it came to blending a family. As hard and scary as it was at times, it was what God called us to do. He held our hands. He showered us with grace.3. Kids will like you some days. Kids will not like you some days. Love them anyways.4. It's supposed to be hard. It's worth it.5. Kids grow up. So find the humor. Always believe in them. Give them grace. Enjoy the ride.6. Doing the best you can is all you can really do. Trust God to hold their hands and hearts.7. I am blindingly aware of my need for Jesus because I am a parent--and that is a very good place to be!